From This Corner - Councilor's question silences even supporters in audience

Written by Paul Gauvin

June 01, 2007

Lawyers, it is said, are taught early on to refrain from asking a question they don't know the answer to.

Town Councilor Gregory Milne is not a lawyer, so he asked a public question of voters attending the annual meeting of the Greater Hyannis Civic Association last week that he should have left tucked in his shirt pocket for the moment.

During an open forum, Milne, who has a reputation for being long-winded, raised his hand to speak and somebody on the other side of the room immediately murmured the words "I'll be brief," attracting several muffled guffaws. Sure enough, Milne stood and prefaced his remarks with something like, "I'll be brief."

"Brief" is a subjective thing and not all will agree on what "brief" really is under various circumstances. It is "three minutes" at town council meetings. Milne exceeded that particular parameter to the point that association member and charge d'affaires for the evening, Joe Hoffman, on the other side of the room, signaled Milne with the "cut" sign by running an open hand along his throat repeatedly.

But the verbally feisty councilor continued his oration that unfortunately digressed from association matters into the personal, political realm by asking a direct question the audience didn't expect.

Couched in terms of "feedback," Milne inquired whether people in the audience wanted him to run again for the town council or might they prefer he run for the charter commission?

The silence was deafening.

Maybe Milne felt an immediate need to gauge his standing after a previous speaker suggested the association try to field good candidates for the town council and other offices.

In a political venue, or in a one-on-one dialog, the question would have been appropriate. But to ask somebody to get up in front of 40 people and comment on such a personal question involving the secret ballot only Karl Rove would have the arrogance to recommend.

Well, we learn by our mistakes...or so they say.

It must be mentioned in Milne's behalf that at best he was there and involved with his constituency, did comment on association business and did update the audience on the charter commission effort he has championed for the potential benefit of the community.

Milne certainly had supporters in the audience, but they were stunned into silence by the question.

From this corner, the councilor's gaffe paled to that of his council colleagues with constituencies in Hyannis and Hyannisport -- that would be Councilors Gary Brown of Precinct 9, Harold Tobey of Precinct 8 and James Munafo of Precinct 3 -- who did not and usually do not participate in association meetings despite open invitations.

In a similar vein, an inappropriate shout from the rear tainted somber Memorial Day ceremonies at Beechwood Cemetery as Council President Janet Joakim rendered remarks for the occasion. As she did, somebody shouted, "Your three minutes are up." -- a reference to the time allotted at council meetings for citizens to speak. Not nice given the sacred venue.

* * *

How can Barnstable compete in the All American City award next week when it insists on calling itself a town? If in fact the significant contingent of town (city) officials heading out to Anaheim, Calif., manages to talk their way into the top award, it ought be incumbent upon them on their return to finally recognize that Barnstable, particularly Hyannis, has grown into a city. It operates on a city charter, ergo, city hall, city council, city manager, city limits, city police -- but could still retain the village fire departments and water supplies until such time as voters in a grass roots revolution demand, we say, demand, consolidated fire and water service at less cost.

It is said the contingent is not going to Anaheim just for the competition but to learn what other cities have done to improve their economic lot. One thing they've managed is to call themselves cities if that's what they are. Our contingent might want to stop at Disneyland and see what Mickey Mouse has to say about it.

Hopefully, and as stated by town officials, private money will pay for the vaca -- ah, networking trip. If that is truly the case, then we can't call it a junket, can we.